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Kurdish and Iraqi Forces Widen Offensive Against ISIS in Northern Iraq Kurdish and Iraqi Forces Widen Offensive Against ISIS in Northern Iraq
(about 3 hours later)
BAGHDAD — Kurdish fighters opened offensives on Tuesday against Islamic State militants in several parts of northern Iraq, seizing control of a vital border crossing between Iraq and Syria that has been a major conduit for insurgents moving between the two countries, officials said. BAGHDAD — Kurdish fighters opened offensives against Islamic State militants in several parts of northern Iraq on Tuesday, seizing control of a border crossing with Syria that has been a major conduit for the insurgents, officials said.
In a predawn push, pesh merga forces of the semiautonomous Kurdistan Regional Government fought their way into the Rabia district, near the Syrian border, seizing control of two villages by late morning, officials said. Fighting elsewhere in the district continued through the day, with the pesh merga eventually gaining control of the border crossing, Kurdish officials said. In a predawn push, pesh merga forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government fought their way into the Rabia district, near the Syrian border, seizing control of two villages by late morning and, by day’s end, the border crossing, Kurdish officials said.
Islamic State, also known as ISIS, had controlled Rabia since early June, when jihadist fighters swept across the border from Syria and quickly overwhelmed Iraqi security forces throughout the region, including in Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city.Islamic State, also known as ISIS, had controlled Rabia since early June, when jihadist fighters swept across the border from Syria and quickly overwhelmed Iraqi security forces throughout the region, including in Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city.
The militants, who have declared an Islamic caliphate stretching across eastern Syria and western Iraq, have used a highway between Rabia and Mosul, 70 miles away, to freely transport fighters, weapons, armored vehicles and supplies between the two countries.The militants, who have declared an Islamic caliphate stretching across eastern Syria and western Iraq, have used a highway between Rabia and Mosul, 70 miles away, to freely transport fighters, weapons, armored vehicles and supplies between the two countries.
“The militants showed fierce resistance but pesh merga forced them to retreat to the center of the district,” said Helgurd Hikmet Mela Ali, a spokesman for the Kurdish force. “The militants showed fierce resistance, but pesh merga forced them to retreat to the center of the district,” said Helgurd Hikmet Mela Ali, a spokesman for the Kurdish force.
Fighting between pesh merga and Islamic State also erupted in Zumar, about 40 miles northwest of Mosul, near the reservoir of the Mosul Dam, officials said. Zumar has been the site of periodic clashes since early August when militants captured the area.Fighting between pesh merga and Islamic State also erupted in Zumar, about 40 miles northwest of Mosul, near the reservoir of the Mosul Dam, officials said. Zumar has been the site of periodic clashes since early August when militants captured the area.
American warplanes conducted seven airstrikes against Islamic State in northwest Iraq, destroying one armored vehicle, two transport vehicles and four armed vehicles, the American military said in a statement. Two other American airstrikes destroyed an Islamic State fighting position and an armed vehicle near the Mosul Dam, the military said. It was unclear whether those bombardments occurred in conjuction with the fighting in Rabia and Zumar.American warplanes conducted seven airstrikes against Islamic State in northwest Iraq, destroying one armored vehicle, two transport vehicles and four armed vehicles, the American military said in a statement. Two other American airstrikes destroyed an Islamic State fighting position and an armed vehicle near the Mosul Dam, the military said. It was unclear whether those bombardments occurred in conjuction with the fighting in Rabia and Zumar.
For the first time, British forces joined the airstrike campaign, with Tornado attack jets striking ISIS positions in support of Kurdish forces, the British Defense Ministry announced. For the first time, British forces joined the airstrike campaign, with two Tornado attack jets striking ISIS positions in support of Kurdish forces, the British Defense Ministry announced. The planes blew up an ISIS heavy weapon position and an armed pick-up truck, the ministry said.
Iraqi and Kurdish officials also reported heavy fighting south of the Kirkuk in Daquq, a district located on the main highway connecting the oil-rich area around Kirkuk with Baghdad. Islamic State fighters seized control of the area during its June push into northern and central Iraq, commandeering the Kirkuk-Baghdad road along with two other major north-south highways, effectively halting ground transportation between central and northern Iraq. Iraqi and Kurdish officials also reported heavy fighting south of the Kirkuk in Daquq, a district located on the main highway connecting the oil-rich area around Kirkuk with Baghdad. Islamic State fighters seized control of the area in June, commandeering the Kirkuk-Baghdad road along with two other major north-south highways and effectively halting ground transportation between central and northern Iraq.
With the support of airstrikes by warplanes from the United States-led coalition, Iraqi and Kurdish forces pushed into Daquq district Tuesday morning, Iraqi officials said. On Tuesday afternoon, the officials reported that the coalition of forces had taken control of the villages of Sa’ad, Khaled and Wadah, about 20 miles south of Kirkuk, and the district of Tazah, between Kirkuk and Daquq. With the support of international airstrikes, Iraqi and Kurdish forces pushed into Daquq district Tuesday morning, Iraqi officials said. On Tuesday afternoon, the officials reported that the coalition of forces had taken control of the villages of Sa’ad, Khaled and Wadah, about 20 miles south of Kirkuk, and the district of Tazah, between Kirkuk and Daquq.
But late Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Hussein Mansour, a division commander for the pesh merga, reported that a counterattack by the insurgents had forced the government troops to retreat from Sa’ad, Khaled and Wadah, allowing the Iraqi Air Force to conduct airstrikes on the militants’ positions. But late Tuesday, Brig. Gen. Hussein Mansour, a division commander for the pesh merga, reported that a counterattack by the insurgents had forced the government troops to retreat from the three villages, allowing the Iraqi Air Force to conduct airstrikes on the militants’ positions.
Iraqi officials also reported that Sunni tribal fighters allied with Iraqi government forces were fighting Islamic State militants in the Rashad district on the highway connecting Kirkuk with Tikrit.Iraqi officials also reported that Sunni tribal fighters allied with Iraqi government forces were fighting Islamic State militants in the Rashad district on the highway connecting Kirkuk with Tikrit.
Any lasting success in pushing back Islamic State would be a significant boost for the Iraqi government, which has struggled to roll back Islamic State’s gains around the country and, in places, has continued to cede ground. Any lasting success in pushing back ISIS would be a significant boost for the Iraqi government, which has struggled to roll back Islamic State’s gains around the country and, in places, has continued to cede ground.
But should the coalition of Iraqi forces prevail, it remained unclear which unit would assume responsibility for holding Daquq and Zumar. Both districts fall within the so-called disputed territories claimed by both the government of Kurdistan and the central government of Iraq.But should the coalition of Iraqi forces prevail, it remained unclear which unit would assume responsibility for holding Daquq and Zumar. Both districts fall within the so-called disputed territories claimed by both the government of Kurdistan and the central government of Iraq.
The Kurdistan government exploited the power vacuum caused by the Islamic State’s lightning advance in June, and the rationale of regional security and the Iraqi army’s feeble response, to progressively seize control of the disputed territories. The Kurdistan government exploited the power vacuum caused by the Islamic State’s routing of Iraqi Army units in June to progressively seize control of the disputed territories.
In addition to Daquq and Zumar, which is also in the disputed territories, the pesh merga have been trying to drive Islamic State militants out of Jalawla and Sinjar.In addition to Daquq and Zumar, which is also in the disputed territories, the pesh merga have been trying to drive Islamic State militants out of Jalawla and Sinjar.
“The plan is to get our lands back, set the border, get our bunkers strong and then wait for orders,” Helgurd Hikmet Mela Ali, a spokesman for the pesh merga, said in a recent interview. “That’s our right: to be ambitious.”“The plan is to get our lands back, set the border, get our bunkers strong and then wait for orders,” Helgurd Hikmet Mela Ali, a spokesman for the pesh merga, said in a recent interview. “That’s our right: to be ambitious.”
Mr. Ali also said that after suffering several humiliating setbacks soon after Islamic State’s push into northern Iraq, the morale of the Kurdish forces had rebounded.Mr. Ali also said that after suffering several humiliating setbacks soon after Islamic State’s push into northern Iraq, the morale of the Kurdish forces had rebounded.
“If you compare the pesh merga today and a month ago, you can tell there’s higher morale, better readiness, and we’ve been able to take back some locations,” he said.“If you compare the pesh merga today and a month ago, you can tell there’s higher morale, better readiness, and we’ve been able to take back some locations,” he said.
But the gains had come at a cost, he said: Fighting since June has killed about 200 pesh merga soldiers and wounded about 1,000.But the gains had come at a cost, he said: Fighting since June has killed about 200 pesh merga soldiers and wounded about 1,000.
Elsewhere in Iraq on Tuesday, three bombs concealed on roads in Baghdad killed seven people and wounded 32, an official at the Iraqi Interior Ministry said. Two car bombs were detonated near the city of Hilla, in southern Iraq, killing four and wounding 16, officials said. Another car bomb was detonated in the city of Karbala, also in southern Iraq, killing six and wounding 14. In Baghdad on Tuesday, 26 people were killed and 85 wounded across the city in a series of attacks that included three roadside bombs, three car bombs and two mortar shells, an Interior Ministry official said. Three mortar shells landed in the northern suburbs of Baghdad, killing six and wounding 14, the official added.
Meanwhile, two car bombs were detonated near the city of Hilla, in southern Iraq, killing four and wounding 16, officials said, and another car bomb was detonated in the city of Karbala, also in southern Iraq, killing six and wounding 14.